Man drowns in Hopewell dam

A 25-YEAR-OLD man drowned yesterday while cooling off from the heat at a dam in the Hopewell area.

Khehla Sithole, of Lindelani in Hopewell, had gone to the Umlazi River dam at Mapstone farm with three friends.

Local councillor Mamso Maphumulo said Sithole drowned at about 11 am.

“We understand the boys had gone out for a swim because it was very hot. We also heard that they had been using tyre tubes,” said Maphumulo.

She said Sithole got into difficulty at some point and drowned.

A resident of the area who declined to be named said Sithole did not know how to swim and was using a tyre tube as a flotation device. He slipped off the tyre and drowned.

“The other guys saw him drowning and rushed to find help as they could not help him themselves.

“When the police search and rescue team arrived, they pointed to the spot where he had drowned and the police divers went in. It took them about 10 minutes to come up with his body,” said the resident.

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